The French Riviera has never been so inviting — or filled with this much action and romance. From the delightful banter between its two leads to the bevy of mysteries their characters find themselves in each week, Cannes Confidential is primed to be great summer viewing. Headlined by Jamie Bamber (Strike Back, Marcella, Battlestar Galactica), well-known French actor Lucie Lucas (Clem, Porto and Gloria), and singer/actor Tamara Marthe (Profilage), the six-part series debuts on Acorn TV, AMC Networks’ popular streamer, June 26.
Cannes Confidential aims high and hits its marks. It may be billed as a high-concept detective series, but it goes the way of Moonlighting to engage with the tit-for-tat relationship between its two main characters — by-the-book detective Camille Delmasse (Lucas) and dreamy international conman Harry King (Bamber). Brought together to solve crimes on the French Riviera, the couple’s will they/won’t they relationship is further tested by Camille’s go-to gal Léa Robert (Marthe), and the big deal they’ve made to free Camille’s father of corruption charges. It doesn’t help that he was the ex-chief of police. Drama and intrigue ensue.
Jamie Bamber, who turned heads and generated a fanbase playing Captain Lee “Apollo” Adama in Battlestar Galactica nearly 20 years ago, shared more about the series with MovieWeb.
A Show with Joie de Vivre
Cannes Confidential is created by Chris Murray (Midsomer Murders, Agatha Raisin). Think of it as a kind of love letter to Cannes. Set in the Cote d’Azur, the acting, drama, and action all stand out, but it should be noted that this is the first English-language procedural drama to be produced and set in the location since the 1970s.
“The show is fun, escapist, and everyone in the family can watch it,” said Jamie Bamber. “It’s definitely not the darker side of television that we have grown accustomed to or garners all the awards. This is something you can chill out with after a hard day’s work, pour yourself a glass of rosé, and just sit on the couch and pretend you’re in the south of France going around in a teal-colored car, solving crimes with this couple who, hopefully, you will fall in love with.”
So, yeah… sign us up! Sure enough, the show does a fine job luring viewers in. It blends mystery, comedy, and crime within its main love story. Better still is how well the show uses Cannes as another character, giving viewers a deep dive into the lifestyle, the stunning views, and everything else that lies beyond the yachts and A-listers. It’s nice to see working-class characters here, too. In fact, two worlds — the mega wealthy and working class — collide in Cannes Confidential, and the show uses its main characters and their personalities to illuminate the differences of class and culture.
“Camille and Harry seem to repel each other, and part of the attraction is to play of those elements,” added Bamber. “If you think of Grace Kelly, or Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall… you know of that kind of push-pull sexual chemistry. That’s what really attracted me to the show.”
A Modern-day Moonlighting with a Twist
Back in the 1980s, the show Moonlighting, which starred Cybill Shepherd and introduced the world to Bruce Willis, shot high up in the ratings and had millions of people tuning into ABC. Cannes Confidential is primed to attract its own fan base in an era of populated streamers, but there’s a kind of élan here that’s downright fetching.
“The show reminded me of all the best moments of something Cary Grant and Roger Moore would do,” explained Bamber. “And there was a bit of Moonlighting thrown into the scripts I initially saw, so it reminded me of that sort of feel-good television from my early childhood. I’ve done a lot of darker and dramatic stuff and played a lot of bad guys recently. And whilst Harry is not necessarily a good guy, he has a certain levity and elusive charm and mystery about him. And that’s what really drew me to the project. That, and the relationship between the local policewoman.”
Bamber quickly added that he felt the show would give viewers an unprecedented look at Cannes, offering a side of the famous area that they haven’t seen before — from casino and landmarks to beautiful yachts in the harbor. “And there are the islands,” he said, “but there’s also the hinterland. When you get away from the coast and further up the hill, you see where the maid servants live, and you see where the people who have to cater to this international, elite Cannes live. Hopefully you will understand a bit more about the place.”
Bamber and the Doubtful Future of Battlestar Galactica
In the meantime, Bamber exudes gratitude for his career path. Some 20 years ago, when a reimagined version of cheeky ’70s hit Battlestar Galactica emerged, Bamber and the show’s cast found themselves riding high from all the praise. Would he be up for another version of the hit show?
“It remains a gift that we keep discovering new upsides from the show,” said Bamber of what he and the rest of cast have been experiencing through the years, “because we’re all in each other’s lives and to work again together would be a dream come true. But, you know, you can’t assume that those dreams come true. And I doubt it will. But we at least have the show and memories, and also the interaction we’ve had over the years with people who’ve fallen in love with Battlestar Galactica. So, I feel very blessed to have been involved in it, and to still be involved in the dialogue that surrounds it.”
Regardless, fans of his or crime shows in general will have Cannes Confidential to devour. The first two episodes of Cannes Confidential hits Acorn TV, AMC Networks’ streamer, June 26.
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